Over the years, the creators of The Simpsons have constantly poked fun at the show’s massive merchandising empire. This time they’re celebrating part of the marketing empire by swinging into Chico and promoting The Simpsons ninth annual Halloween comic book. To commemorate Bongo Comics’ 10-year anniversary, three of its artists signed comic books and cartoon merchandise. Bill Morrison of Bongo Comics wasn’t sure it would last 10 years. “There was a huge buzz at the San Diego ComicCon,” Morrison said of the announcement of the Simpsons comic. “The industry was in a huge slump. We started at the worst time.” The first comic book featuring Simpsons characters was published in January 1993. Read More >>>
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Wireless Simpsons Campaign
“The Fox TV network is planning a major new wireless effort centered on one of television’s most well-known families—the Simpsons. Homer, Marge and the rest of the cast of the hit animated series will soon make the jump to wireless, said Jim Beddows, Fox’s vice president of wireless entertainment. The company plans to sell a variety of Simpsons-themed wireless services, including ring tones, wallpapers and games, starting in the fourth quarter. Fox worked with Simpsons writers and animators to create specialized content for its wireless offerings, Beddows said. The Simpsons wireless services will first be launched in Asia and Europe in the United States next year. The content will be organized around character locales, and will be updated monthly.”
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Homer’s Voice Hits High Note
Dan Castellaneta, voice of Homer Simpson, has been cast as Aaron Spelling in NBC’s movie about Charlie’s Angels, one of Spelling’s best-known creations. For the part, Castellaneta will don Spelling’s signature turtleneck for “Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ ” – the show dubbed “jiggle TV” by critics during its mid-’70s run. The movie will focus on the show’s tumultuous first season, and is slated to air sometime next year. The ABC series followed the adventures of three sexy private detectives who worked for an unseen boss named Charlie. Critics derided Charlie’s Angels as “massage parlor television” and “voyeurism” which only added to the show’s huge ratings and turned its stars into sex symbols.
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Fans Flush With D’oh!
“‘Twas the painting of a menagerie that caught Karl Balluch’s eye. Wee Bartholomew perched in a well-sculpted tree as his mother and father stood in the flesh below. His cherub-like sister glared at an evil serpent that had plucked a round delicacy from the foliage. Crisp lines encapsulated the rich hues — blues, greens, yellows — that lay within. Balluch was one of many who visited the Metro Convention Centre yesterday for Simpsons Mania, an art show dedicated to the hugely popular, long-running animated series. Throughout the afternoon, hundreds queued outside a small gallery of about 300 late-20th Century (pre-Y2K era) pieces ranging from less than $200 to more than $3,000. Balluch, 32, parted with $275 for “The Garden of Springfield,” after a simple appraisal: “It gets the realm of all of the Simpsons — in the (buff).” Read More >>>
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Apu Bad For Convenience?
The convenience store has permeated our culture so deeply that people are analyzing Apu of the Simpsons. “Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has stamped both positive and negative images on the industry,” said Jeff Lenard of the National Association of Convenience Stores, whose article on Apu is to appear in November’s NACS Magazine. “There are some retailers who truly think he is one of the worst things that has happened to our industry,” Lenard said. “But Apu is also one of the most honest, lovable, good-hearted characters on the show. He’s a highly educated family man. But he often keeps a loaded rifle behind the counter and chases shoplifters, two dangerous practices that increase the likelihood of violence.” Read More >>>
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Christmas DVD Now In Stores!
The second of two holiday themed Simpsons DVD’s has been released in North America today. Christmas With The Simpsons includes the episodes “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire”, “Miracle On Evergreen Terrace”, “Grift Of The Magi”, “She Of Little Faith”, and “Mr. Plow”, and Mr. Burns featurette. The DVD should retail for $14.98 or lower. This DVD will be available in the UK on November 3.
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Homer To Pack Chuch Pews
A minister is using the exploits of Homer Simpson to attract more people to church. The Rev George Cowie is hoping to have his congregation laughing in the aisles as he reads the gospel according to The Simpsons to help get his religious message across. Each meeting is to be based on a different episode of the popular series. Mr Cowie said: “Despite its anarchic humour, The Simpsons is one of the few shows which portrays a modern family who attend church regularly. The course will help close the gap with popular culture, and is open to anyone who wants to learn more about Christian faith. It is perhaps a bit of fun, but I hope it will make people sit up and listen.” Read More >>>
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Eye On Simpsons Sites
Here’s your latest web news. Eye On Springfield has returned after a lengthy absence from the net. The site features some new content and an original new design which is like nothing ever seen before in the community. Great to see it back! Seven Forty-Two and That’s Unpossible have also been redesigned. Good job all around. Check out new additions to our Random Link rotation by clicking the tab title.
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If Simpsons Ruled The World
“Now that Rick Miller has reinvented “Macbeth” as a vehicle starring voices from The Simpsons, we think the rest of the entertainment world could use a shot of Simpsons magic. Here are some suggestions: ex-Simpsons executive producer Mike Scully says that he would like to see Homer in “Ham.” He thinks Marge is a natural to star in the Broadway musical “Hairspray” and Principal Skinner should star in a production of “Night Mother.” We’d like to see Homer get his own show on the Food Network because no one knows junk food better. Scottish groundskeeper Willie would have made a heck of a replacement for Mel Gibson in “Braveheart.” Read More >>>
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Change The Channel, NZ!
Changes are happening in New Zealand, where in an unusual deal under TV3’s output deal with 20th Century Fox, it is being allowed to take rights from TV2. Canadian-owned TV3 has picked up rights to the upcoming 15th series of The Simpsons and a significant back catalogue that will allow TV3 to run the show daily opposite One’s “Holmes”. An announcement was expected late this week and the deal is expected to take effect in February. TV2 has held the free-to-air rights to The Simpsons since the beginning, and this will be a huge loss to the network which broadcasts new episodes before cable. We’ll keep New Zealanders informed of future developments. You can read the article here.
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The Tragedy Of MacHomer
For an actor with a small role, the time waiting backstage is a sweet agony — you know you’ll have your seconds in the sun, but most of the time you’re backstage, killing time and being quiet. Rick Miller was performing as a murderer in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” almost a decade ago, a tiny role that included considerable backstage time, which he used thinking up ways to torment the principals in the company. His most effective bit was doing lines from “Macbeth” as Homer Simpson. This not only drew big laughs from the cast, but allowed him to bring famous lines down to Springfield size, with cracks such as, “Is this a doughnut I see before me?” Read More >>>
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Al Jean Speaks To UGO
While we go through this period of news drought, why not entertain yourself with another Al Jean interview. This one has been conducted by UGO.com and was found by a member of No Homers Club. “It’s usually Matt Groening who is credited with The Simpsons. But without a hysterically funny show runner and writer like Al Jean, I don’t believe the show would be what it is today.” UGO’s interview features some old and some new questions, mostly based around the release of Season 3 on DVD. It’s a good read if you’re a Simpsons fan. Read More >>>